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JCHOES FROM 
THE WHITE ALOE 



BY 

Henry Nelson Bullard 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/echoesfromwhiteaOObull 



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ECHOES FROM THE 



WHITE ALOE 



BY 

/ 

HENRY NELSON BULLARD 



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PARK COT.TiFGE PRESS 
MDCCCXCrx 



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•ECONO COPY, 
1889. 




38710 



COPYRIGHT, 1899 

BY HENRY NELSON BOLLARD 

ALL BIGHTS RESERVED 



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JUL 2 A 1899 I 



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CONTENTS 

By the old avhite aloe . . . . . .... 1 

My sorrowed life 3 

The avhite aloe . . . . . . . . 5 

a lullaby 7 

Just ACROSS FROM KANSAS 9 

The annual ball . 11 

Sonnet i. To her smile 13 

konnet it. to a friend . 14 

The GORILLA'S PREDICAMENT 15 

The FOREST OF ARDEN . 17 

December , . 19 



BY THE OLD WHITE ALOE 

Swift the happy moments pass away, 
Fast to night doth turn our youthful day, 
Let us gather closely now and say 

What we can to hallow 
For the future time the memVies dear, 
While the ghosts of pleasures past appear, 
Of the days we've spent together here 

By the old White Aloe. 

Sad indeed the thought of parting seems, 
Though ahead a distant brightness gleams 
Welcome as the promise of our dreams 

On the old White Aloe. 
In these last few mel-ancholy days 
All the future's dimmed by present haze; 
Backward, seldom forward turns our gaze 

By the old White Aloe. 
1 



BY THE OLD IVHITE ALOE 

Still it is a foolish way to do — 

Spoil v/ith vain regret the forward view 

And forget the many friendships true 

That will ever hallow 
All the present days. Come, let us tell, 
While our mem'ries o'er us cast a spell, 
Of the many friends we've known so well 

By the old White Aloe. 

Friends, farewell, farewell, we now must part 
Tears are in the eye, and tears in heart. 
Yes, we g^o, but friendship doth but start 
By the old White Aloe, 



MY SORROWED LIFE 

Crack, a struggle, and the shell fell off; 

Quick the light shone through. 
Sudden wonder and amazement came; 

All was strange and new. 

As I stepped upon my new-found legs 
What a goose I felt. 

I had only but a new home found- 
In a coop I dwelt. 

All around me did the chickens lie, 

I, a gosling lass. 
And my mother was no goose at all — 

But a hen, alas! 

Days passed onward but my feet were webbed, 

I was out of place. 
Still I scrambled with the chicks for food 

Though of diverse race. 
3 



MYSORROIVED LIFE 

But one morning- came the awful scene 

Which I'll ne'er forget; 
At the bottom of the hill 1 saw 

A small pool all wet! 

With a sudden and a joyous hiss 

I set off to run. 
And the others all came running- too 

Down to see the fun. 

In we went without a single thought — 

In the water cool. 
Oh! how I enjoyed the sudden bath 

In that pretty pool. 

But, alas! when I got out again 

Where were all those chicks? 

Nothing could be seen but just their legs 
Sticking up like sticks. 

So my life is filled with vain remorse, 

How I long for peace! 
How much happier would my life have been 

If they had been geese! 



THE WHITE ALOE 

Rippling-, sweetly rippling-, 
Little mountain song, 

Gently, g*ently gliding* 
Peacef ally along* — 

List to the White Aloe 

And its mountain song. 

Tearing-, madly tearing. 
Roaring in the storm, 

Likeamig-hty giant's 

Terrible dread form — 

Fear the wild White Aloe 
In the thundering- storm. 

Sometimes fierce and awful 
Like the swooping- hawk, 

Sudden in its bursting*, 
Quiet then to mock — 

Trust not the White Aloe, 

Treacherous as the hawk. 
5 



THE IVHITE ALOE 

Peaceful now its ripples 

Like the morning* dawn, 

With no thoug-ht of torrent 
At your feet to fawn — 

Fair is the White Aloe 
In the morning- dawn. 

Ever many memories 
In my mind will play 

Of the swelling- torrent, 
Of the streamlet gay, 

Of the glad White Aloe, 
Smiling- in its play. 



LULLABY 

Sleep, sleep my baby. 

Sleep, ob sleep. 
Mother is waiting near; 
She will not leave thee, dear, 
So sleep without a fear, 

Sleep, my baby, sleep. 

Hush, hush my darling". 

Hush, oh hush. 
Peacefully close thy eyes, 
As daylight slowly dies; 
I'll come if baby cries. 

Hush, my darling-, hush. 

Dream, dream my baby, 
Dream, oh dream. 

May thy dreams happy be, 

And from all sorrow free; 

Mother is watching thee. 

Dream, my baby, dream, 
7 



LULLABY 

Rest, rest, my baby. 

Rest, oh rest. 
Angels look from above 
With tender, watchful love 
Guarding' thee v^ell, my dove, 

Rest, my darling, rest. 



JUST ACROSS FROM KANSAS 

Hot and'close and sultry 
Burning off the grass! 

How we wish the summer 

Would more quickly pass 

Till a cool breeze fans us 

Just across from Kansas, 

Many are the pleasures, 

Spite of all the heat, 
That the summer brings us 

Though we plan retreat 
Frcm the sun that tans us 
Till a cool breeze fans us. 

Cold and dark and freezing 

Winter's icy blast! 
How much time we're wasting 

Wishing it were past. 
How the cold unmans us 
Just across from Kansas. 



10 JUST ACROSS FROM KANSAS 

Yet it is the winter 

Brings the g-lassy ice 

And we spend the hot days 
Dreading- mercury's rise 

Till a cool breeze fans us 

Just across from Kansas. 



AT THE ANNUAL BALL GIVEN UNDER THE 
AUSPICES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF 
INDEPENDENT MERMAIDS 

As soon as the clamshells begaa to close 
The invited maidens set out with their beaux 
And hurried along- so as not to be late. 
For the clams all retire at a quarter to eight, 
And at eight the dancing was sure to begin 
With laughter and rollicking clamor and din. 

Now this was the dance to which every one went 
Who was ever on fun or jollity bent. 
All the girls who on Saturday evening you see 
Swimming and diving and flirting and free, 
And all the young men so gallant and gay 
Who sit up all night and sleep all the day. 
Both handsome and homely, beautiful — all 
Are sure to be out at the Annual Ball. 

11 



12 THE ANNUAL BALL 

The music was fine and the dancing was great 
And all went on smoothly till finally Kate, 

The pride of the ocean, the queen of the sea, 
Had a dance with John Lobster — a dandy was he! 
All dressed in a dress-suit of satin dark green 
As hmdsome a lobster as ever was seen. 

But she danced him so hard and so long- that the 

heat 
Turned that beautiful lobster as red as a beet. 
The excitement that followed was awful, for all 
The illustrious guests in Sea Bottom Hall 

Were rattled, and one in his fright set his heel 
Oa the delicate tail of th' electrical eel 
And instantly darkness descended o'er all 
Aid thit was the end of the Annual Ball. 



SONNET 
I 

TO HER SMILE 

111 ne'er forget when first you passed my way 

And first I saw that sunny smile so sweet. 

I turned and followed fast on willing* feet 
And printed on my mind the hour, the day. 
I had been sad before but then was gay 

When I felt sure my questioning glance did meet 

An answering look that told me you would treat 
My boldness kindly and with smiles repay. 
I stand and gaze into those sweet blue eyes 

And feel all sorrow is assuaged at last 
As noonday sun the morning dewdrop dries 

Andwarms this whirling ball, thedampnightpast. 
I now can dare to boast of this my prize — 

The right to cause your smile, 111 e'er hold fast. 

13 



SONNET 
II 

TO A FRIEND 

A cloud oppressed me and I felt aloae; 

I knew not why upon me did descend 

That g-loom. I felt deprived of every friend. 
And then I thou^-ht of you. A clear sweet tone, 
Sounding- aloud through all the discord grown 

So common in my heart that without end 

The dread despondency increased, did send 
Assurance that there was a friend, mine own. 
Ah, love is meant to cheer the weary soul! 

So when I feel discouraged and downcast 
I turn not to the Persian's sparkling bowl, 

I rise and gladly clasp affection fast 
And feel that you, though ages swiftly roll, 

Will be a faithful friend unto the last. 
14 



THE GORILLA'S PREDICAMENT 

There was a GDrilla of desert-wide fame, 
Of hideous face, and most musqular frame, 
Who went for a visit to Congo Free State, 
Sent for by his monarch, King Leo the Great. 
He was one of a party made up for the trip — 
Crocodile, with his great alligator-skin grip; 

And that large dripping animal there at his side, 
With a bag of tough Hippopotamus hide; 
And towering o'er all was the elephant's head. 
Dyed early that morning a beautiful red. 

Their guide was an ape from Timbuctoo, 
Whose face wore a tired and thin look, too, 
Who seemed to keep watch on the elephant there. 
And again and again would tear his hair 

And mutter when no one was looking as though 
He would kill him quick could he bigger grow. 

15 



16 THE GORILLA'S PREDICAMENT 

All went on in peace, for a week or more 
When the elephant came in all covered with g'ore, 
And out of his mouth hung- the tail of an ape. 
Then the guide, with his face twisted all out of 
shape, 
Leaped straight with a roar at the elephant's head — 
New reddened with blood of the ape that was dead. 
Deep into the tenderest part of the beast 
He buried his teeth and never released 
His grip, till the elephant, snorting with pain, 
Dashed away in the desert and never again 

Were they seen by the party who hunted all day, 
But both guide and companions were vanished 
away. 
All were lost in the desert, alone in the sand, 
With no one to lend them a beckoning hand. 

In the worst fix of all, the Gorilla was placed — 
'Twas far the worst problem he ever had faced 
And his tail curled in fright, as he thought of the fate 
That awaited him surely in Congo Free State. 

So he drowned all hissorrow by getting real drunk 
For he'd packed all his clothes in the elephant's 
trunk. 



THE FOREST OF ARDEN 

I sat alone at twilight 

And dreamed over my books. 
It seemed to me I wandered 

Near sweetly sing-ing* brooks. 
I thoug-ht they spoke in languag-e 

I'd never heard before; 
But yet I knew the message 

And longed to gather more 
Of the flowers beside the water 

That seemed the spoken words 
Let fall by the brook beside me. 

Above the brook the birds 
Were surely speaking to me. 

The very stones awoke 
And seemed to add their voices. 

At once all nature broke 
Into a wild glad chorus 

Accompanied by the trees 
With all their branches waving 

In answer to the breeze. 
17 



18 THE FOREST OF ARDEN 

I ne'er had heard those voices 

Until that summer night; 
A scene like that had never 

Spread out before my sight; 
But I knew at once the meaning 

Of words, of notes, of tune 
And I dreamed of all I longed for 

That silent night in June. 
I had read of Shakespeare's forest; 

I had longed to visit there 
Amid the trees of Arden 

Beside the clear brooks, where 
One feels the touch of nature. 

And knows as he is known; 
Where all of the best within us 

Answers in perfect tone 
To every song of heaven, 

To every thought below. 
To all earth's joy and gladness, 

To every call of woe. 

Go not to seek the Forest; 

It is no distant goal. 
Ideal, a dream, but real, 

It lies within your soul. 



DECEMBER 

Remember, remember the month of December, 

And all that it bring-s us of joy and good cheer, 
Its sleighing and riding, its skating and sliding, 

The pleasures it gives as it closes the year. 
As yearly it meets us with gladness it greets us 

And tells us that Christmas is drawing quite near 
With mistletoe, holly, and company jolly. 

And all the rejoicing of this time of year. 
'Tis the time of all seasons which has the best reasons 

For making us merry and free from all care. 
For where is the fellow whose heart does not mellow, 

At sight of the turkey and Christmas-tide fare. 
Though raining or blowing, though freezing or snow- 

We're now going home to spend Christmas time 
there. 
With father and mother and sister and brother. 

Relations and friends, all for whom we most care. 
From our College cares turning, the Yule log, bright 
burning. 
Will keep from our fireside the storm bleak and 
drear. 
For Santa Glaus binds us wherever he finds us. 
To spend with our loved ones these holidays dear. 

19 



JUL 21 1899 



LIBRI4RY OF CONGRESS 




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